Real Madrid has landed one of the most difficult possible set of competitions in the new competition phase of the Champions League and Liverpool, Manchester City and Juventus, together with a discouraging journey to Kazakhstan – the longest journey in this year's competition.
The Spanish giants play eight games in the first phase, four in the Santiago Bernabéu and four on the road. Here is a look at their opponents:
Liverpool
What should be a transitional season changed in a Premier League-title-winning campaign for Liverpool. New head coach Arne Slot hit the ground, although the early domestic cup closures and a disappointment of Champions League meant that the Reds only had to settle for the top prize of England.
This year the ambition is clear: win in Europe. Liverpool has already spent more than $ 325 million on new signing sessions, with a movement for Alexander Isak still possible before the transfer window closes. One of the big arrivals, Hugo Ekitiké, immediately made an impression, scored and assisted in his first two league outings. Despite a loss of penalty shootout for Crystal Palace in the Community Shield, Liverpool opened the Premier League season with seven goals in the first two games.
Manchester City
Last season there was one to forget for Pep Guardiola, because his team struggled with injuries, inconsistency and a loss of trust. Now in his 10th year in Etihad, Guardiola has reformed both his selection and back room staff, heralded a new cycle without any of the pillars of his successes in the past.
Summer provisions Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki already think it is, while midfield anchor Rodri is on their way to return on time for City's Champions League opener. But back-to-back defeats for all Hilal in the club World Cup and Tottenham in the Premier League have tempered expectations. The quality is there, but the work is far from ready.
Marseille
Olympique Marseille is back in the Champions League, a competition that won it in 1993, but which often yielded a heartache in modern times. Under Roberto de Zerbi, Marseille has tried to spend a stable years of instability and to spend heavily this summer to bring in Facundo Medina, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Angel Gomes and Emerson Palmieri.
The pressure in Marseille is always intense, and whether the team can handle will be decisive. Mason Greenwood is expected to be the star of the team, supported by Center-Back Leonardo Balerdi and midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. To go deep, all three must perform at their peak.
Monaco
Every season Monaco is tipped as a dark horse to challenge Paris Saint-Germain at home and to make noise in Europe. But a lack of fans support and recurring defensive problems has prevented the club from taking the next step. This summer, however, they shocked the market by signing Ansu Fati and Paul Pogba, although both come up with fitness problems.
Defensively they added veteran Eric Dier and goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký, while the biggest victory kept playmaker Maghnes Akliouche, who was sought by PSG and Manchester City. The Champions League of Monaco hopes to hang on to him, together with striker Mikkel Biereth and midfield enforcement office Denis Zakaria.
Juventus
Juventus tries to climb back to the top after they somewhat avoided a disastrous season that almost completely left them out of the European competition. Coach Igor Tudor has been confirmed, but there are many questions about the starting XI and how far this team can really go.
The constants are goalkeeper Michele di Gregorio and defensive leader Bremer, who returns from almost a year from injury. In midfield, João Mário minutes are a candidate next to Captain Manuel Locatelli. The spotlights will be on the rising star Kenan Yildiz, while Jonathan David seems to lead the attack unless Dušan Vlahović remains, in which case the two minutes and goals will fight.
Benfica
Benfica had to sweat against Nice and Fenerbahçe through two qualifying rounds to secure a place in the group stage. The Portuguese champions then lost important veterans Ángel di María and Álvaro Carreras, but quickly moved to strengthen the team. Midfielder Richard Ríos, a revelation at the club World Cup, and Enzo Barrenechea have arrived to stabilize midfield.
In the front, the new striker Vangelis Pavlidis is expected to wear the score tax, with teenager Vooruit Ivanovic will wait in the wings. The defense remains anchored by goalkeeper Anatoliy Truin and veteran Nicolás Otamendi. The big question is whether Benfica will stick to the valued midfielder Florentino Luís before the window closes.
Olympiacos
José Luis Mendilibar is a hero in Athens after he led Olympiacos to a competition and cup double last season. Two years away from winning the Europa Conference League, the Greek side wants to achieve more surprises in Europe.
New arrivals are Rémy Cabella and Italian attacker Gabriel Strefezza, but the key kept their core intact – especially striker Ayoub el Kaabi. The club is also enthusiastic about a harvest of home -grown talents from a UEFA Youth League title, in particular teenager Vooruit Andreas Mouzakitis.
Kairat Almaty
The longest road trip from Real Madrid of the season will be to Kazakhstan, where Kairat Almaty creates history as the most easterly club that ever appears in the Champions League. The almost 4,000 mile trek to the Chinese border can be just as discouraging as the opponent himself.
Yet Kairat is not a pushover. They spent both Dynamo Kyiv and Celtic in the qualifying rounds, with the 17-year-old Prodigy Satpaev-Al signed by Chelsea-the highlight. The team is full of Brazilian and Portuguese import such as Edmilson, Elder Santana and João Paulo, while veteran -defender Aleksandr Martynovich the backline Marshals Marshals. In the goal, the penalty -saving specialist Anarbekov fights against the number 1 place despite his heroic deeds against Celtic.
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